ticketsMember | Make a donation

The Burial of Punchinello

ca. 1800
Not on view
Domenico Tiepolo's 104 drawings illustrating the life of Punchinello trace in amusing and elaborate detail the story of this popular commedia dell'arte character, from his parentage, birth, and childhood, to his diversions and adventures in near and distant lands, to his illness, death, and the apparition of his ghost.

Nine sheets from the series are in the Robert Lehman Collection. This example shows the deceased Punchinello being lowered into the ground before a group of bystanders. Both subject and composition allude to representations of saints' burials, imparting sacred overtones to the scene and emphasizing Punchinello's role as a secular everyman.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Burial of Punchinello
  • Artist: Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, Venice 1727–1804 Venice)
  • Date: ca. 1800
  • Medium: Pen and brown ink, brown and yellow wash, over black chalk.
  • Dimensions: 13 7/8 x 18 5/8 in. (35.3 x 47.3 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.473
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
The Patron Saints of the Crotta Family
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
The Arts paying Homage to the Papal Authority of Pope Pius VI
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
1775
Old Man with a Turban, from The Series of Heads (Raccolta di Teste)
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Venice receiving Neptune's Homage
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
The Baptism of the Emperor Constantine
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.